Who we are and what we do
Every year in Britain over five million wild animals and birds are injured as a direct result of their encounters with man and man's world.
Tiggywinkles, The Wildlife Hospital Foundation, is a specialist hospital. Thanks to donations, we are a free service. Using the best veterinary care available, we are dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating all species of British wildlife. Since opening our doors over 300,000 patients have received treatment at Tiggywinkles. On our busiest day we can have over 1,600 patients on site!
All British wild animal casualties brought to the hospital are treated completely free of charge and are released through a controlled programme, back to the wild, when they are fully fit.
Every casualty is given a chance, we only ever use euthanasia as a last resort. Any animal or bird unable to be released back to the wild is maintained at the Hospital, in as natural conditions as possible. Every creature matters.
Veterinary treatment is carried out by an amazing team of highly trained wildlife and veterinary nurses and specialist consultant veterinary surgeons. This enables us to give our patients ground breaking treatment and the best possible care. Our veterinary team has pioneered much of the treatment now used for wildlife throughout the World. Our expertise and knowledge on all species is shared globally.
Over the years we have perfected techniques for hedgehogs, badgers, deer and other species and have a commitment to passing on this information through books, papers, courses and lectures to veterinary schools. The sharing of our treatments and techniques are helping many millions of casualties across the world, most of which are now being looked after thanks to the positive attitude of Tiggywinkles.
We don't receive government or lottery funding sadly, so we rely on legacies and donations from the public and a handful of Trusts. Every penny helps us to help them.